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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Skyrim on Switch in Handheld Mode

Ganoncrotch on 22 July 2017
abronn627 said:
kazuyamishima said:

As a secondary option? YES

As a primary option? Hell no, you lose more than you gain with switch as a primary/only option.

That's purely subjective.

The Switch has been my main system since launch and haven't bought any PS4 or XB games in months. And with the release schedule for this year, it will probably stay like this for the rest of it. People are underestimating the appeal of the portbale aspect. I would gladly double dip on Skyrim because of that, even if I already play on my PC. 

Is my case subjective too ? Yes.

Are there other Switch owners like me ? Probably yes.

My PS4 is on a lot... but it's on in the background playing a youtube vid while I'm playing Breath of the wild, minecraft or now Splatoon on the Switch.

Really can't think of the last time I launched a game on ps4, maybe street fighter 4 for a round or two online then back to youtube there and Switch gaming.

As for the Skyrim vid... that looks amazing, can't wait for it to come out, will be the first handheld elder scrolls game I play... since the Ngage title :D

Running very nicely too for a game which is still months away from launch.



Why not check me out on youtube and help me on the way to 2k subs over at www.youtube.com/stormcloudlive

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Ganoncrotch on 22 July 2017

Just have to add at the comments about this pre release Switch build captured off screen by cameras doesn't look as good as the PC version with mods....



Why not check me out on youtube and help me on the way to 2k subs over at www.youtube.com/stormcloudlive

Solid-Stark on 22 July 2017
curl-6 said:
Solid-Stark said:
Looks like it's running solid. Very PS3/X360 looking. Maybe it accesses a higher texture pool when docked.

Docked mode typically boosts rendering resolution, and sometimes offers a better framerate, but doesn't usually change the quality of in game assets.

Ahh then we should expect something like 900p when docked.



e=mc^2

Gaming on: PS4 Pro, Switch, SNES Mini, Wii U, PC (i5-7400, GTX 1060)

Ganoncrotch on 22 July 2017
curl-6 said:
Solid-Stark said:
Looks like it's running solid. Very PS3/X360 looking. Maybe it accesses a higher texture pool when docked.

Docked mode typically boosts rendering resolution, and sometimes offers a better framerate, but doesn't usually change the quality of in game assets.

Think one of the only exceptions that I've encountered with this is Minecraft on the Switch which when put into the Dock actually renders more chunks than in handheld mode.... which makes for the world being redrawn when you change between the 2.... and also could be why there is currently issues with the docked version being just 720p as well as the handheld mode... wonder if it's because they were the first to try changing more than just res.



Why not check me out on youtube and help me on the way to 2k subs over at www.youtube.com/stormcloudlive

Nuvendil on 22 July 2017
Solid-Stark said:
curl-6 said:

Docked mode typically boosts rendering resolution, and sometimes offers a better framerate, but doesn't usually change the quality of in game assets.

Ahh then we should expect something like 900p when docked.

Possibly. But Skyrim has a ton of graphical settings that can be instantly changed in real time that don't involve changing out assets.  Grass density, draw distance, object draw distance, character draw distance, lighting settings and features can be instantly toggled.  So there can be  a significant differance between docked and handheld if that is what they want.  It's about priorities. 



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curl-6 on 22 July 2017
Solid-Stark said:

Ahh then we should expect something like 900p when docked.

It's possible; Breath of the Wild for example is 720p when portable and 900p when docked. It all depends on how Bethesda want to prioritize and how much effort they're willing to put in.

Ganoncrotch said:

Think one of the only exceptions that I've encountered with this is Minecraft on the Switch which when put into the Dock actually renders more chunks than in handheld mode.... which makes for the world being redrawn when you change between the 2.... and also could be why there is currently issues with the docked version being just 720p as well as the handheld mode... wonder if it's because they were the first to try changing more than just res.

Personally I think some games should be using the extra power of docked mode for things other than 1080p.

Nuvendil said:

Possibly. But Skyrim has a ton of graphical settings that can be instantly changed in real time that don't involve changing out assets.  Grass density, draw distance, object draw distance, character draw distance, lighting settings and features can be instantly toggled.  So there can be  a significant differance between docked and handheld if that is what they want.  It's about priorities. 

It would be cool of they did tweak settings like this, and it's certainly possible. Draw distance in particular is something that would benefit playing on a TV. 

kazuyamishima said:
Kwaidd said:

say what?

aside from the whole online chat thing, Switch is a love letter to its fans with what it is, and the games that are out and coming out.  I can't come up with a reason not to buy one.

As a secondary option? YES

As a primary option? Hell no, you lose more than you gain with switch as a primary/only option.

That would depend on the person I reckon; Switch offers far more to me as a primary option than PS4 or Xbox One.



Ganoncrotch on 22 July 2017
curl-6 said:
Solid-Stark said:

Ahh then we should expect something like 900p when docked.

It's possible; Breath of the Wild for example is 720p when portable and 900p when docked. It all depends on how Bethesda want to prioritize and how much effort they're willing to put in.

Ganoncrotch said:

Think one of the only exceptions that I've encountered with this is Minecraft on the Switch which when put into the Dock actually renders more chunks than in handheld mode.... which makes for the world being redrawn when you change between the 2.... and also could be why there is currently issues with the docked version being just 720p as well as the handheld mode... wonder if it's because they were the first to try changing more than just res.

Personally I think some games should be using the extra power of docked mode for things other than 1080p.

Nuvendil said:

Possibly. But Skyrim has a ton of graphical settings that can be instantly changed in real time that don't involve changing out assets.  Grass density, draw distance, object draw distance, character draw distance, lighting settings and features can be instantly toggled.  So there can be  a significant differance between docked and handheld if that is what they want.  It's about priorities. 

It would be cool of they did tweak settings like this, and it's certainly possible. Draw distance in particular is something that would benefit playing on a TV. 

kazuyamishima said:

As a secondary option? YES

As a primary option? Hell no, you lose more than you gain with switch as a primary/only option.

That would depend on the person I reckon; Switch offers far more to me as a primary option than PS4 or Xbox One.

Pretty much the only thing the ps4 pro and xbox 1 x exist to do seems to be put more pixels on screen...  I'm okay with the switch using the power for pixels when you conside that as a handheld it's normally running in 720p exactly the res of the handhelds screen, and the majority of tvs today are 1080p I like that power use tbh.



Why not check me out on youtube and help me on the way to 2k subs over at www.youtube.com/stormcloudlive

Keybladewielder on 22 July 2017

Looks good but the game really isn't my cup of tea.



curl-6 on 23 July 2017
Ganoncrotch said:

Pretty much the only thing the ps4 pro and xbox 1 x exist to do seems to be put more pixels on screen...  I'm okay with the switch using the power for pixels when you conside that as a handheld it's normally running in 720p exactly the res of the handhelds screen, and the majority of tvs today are 1080p I like that power use tbh.

Well, that's why PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are pointless in my opinion. A resolution bump isn't necessarily a bad way to use the extra power, but only ever using it for that alone and nothing else seems a missed opportunity in my opinion. There are other aspects of graphics besides just pixel count. If I had to pick between 1080p with worse draw distance, shadows and texture filtering or 900p with better draw distance, shadows and texture filtering, I'd take the latter.



Mbolibombo on 23 July 2017

This primary console thing is so silly. Why cant the switch be a primary console?
Doesnt it all depend on what and how you want to play?

I've had 5 different main platforms since the Wii U launched

2012 - PC - My main platform since the SNES days
2013 - NES - Nostalgia, becoming a father made me go back to my roots. Played a ton NES
2014 - Wii U - Wii U library started to finally become a thing
2015 - Wii U - Left overs from 2014 and a couple of new games
2016 - PS4 - Played mostly indies and remasters, but a couple of new games.
2017 - Switch - A couple of my favorite IP's released - Zelda, MK and now SPlatoon.

So I'd say it's very possible to have whatever platform as your main. As long as you enjoy yourself.